No. 1:Report: Finalists could emerge to interview James; Aldridge: Multiple teams already met with LeBron’s reps — Two of the biggest fish left in the NBA free agency pond — LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony — are starting to get their moment in the sun. For James, it seems he and his agent are trying to turn the heat up on Miami boss Pat Riley. Our David Aldridge reports that James’ agent met with at least four teams last week not named the Miami Heat. That news was originally broken by ESPN.com’s Brian Windhorst and Marc Stein.

Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski similarly reports that if Riley can’t bring a strong cast into Miami soon, there may be final interviews with potential non-Heat suitors for LeBron next week. Here’s more from Wojnarowski on that story:

After conducting meetings with three NBA teams interested in pursuing free-agent star LeBron James, his agent suggested to owners and executives present that a failure of Miami president Pat Riley to rapidly recruit a strong supporting cast could bring finalists back to meet with James himself next week, league sources told Yahoo Sports.

Rich Paul, the agent for James, invited three teams – Cleveland, Dallas and Phoenix – to the offices of his Klutch Sports headquarters to listen to pitches.

The meetings took place on Wednesday and Thursday, sources told Yahoo Sports.

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Some executives believe there’s an opportunity because of a disconnect between James and his teammates, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Another executive attending the meeting flatly said, “I think it’s a smokescreen.”

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James has maintained a desire to take a full max contract with a starting salary of $20.7 million, sources said. Wade and Bosh are still reluctant to take severe cuts in their contracts, sources told Yahoo Sports, creating a financial disconnect among the three.

“There’s clearly a breakdown in communication between LeBron and [Wade and Bosh],” one executive who participated in the meetings over the past two days told Yahoo Sports. “[James is] giving Riley time to go get players for them but if that doesn’t happen in the next few days … LeBron seems ready to explore the market.”

Where the information came from is not the issue. The message is. And it is clear to anyone who’s been paying attention: Riles, you’re really on the clock.

For weeks, the operating principle throughout the league was that James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh were acting in concert. Perhaps not literally, but certainly, each had an idea of what the other was planning to do. Why would Wade walk away from a guaranteed $41.5 million over the next couple of years if he didn’t know James was returning to Miami? Why would Bosh indicate a willingness to take a pay cut if he wasn’t certain he’d be playing with the other SuperFriends for the next few seasons?

Miami’s hopes of adding a centerpiece “Big Fourth” free agent were always iffy, but as free agency has begun this week, the Heat have had to watch the likes of Marcin Gortat and Kyle Lowry go elsewhere, in part, because Miami just couldn’t commit enough money to guys looking for their big career payday.

So Miami is concentrating on getting commitments from shooters like Anthony Morrow and Marvin Williams. But they’re not going to come cheap, either, no matter their desire to play for a contender (assuming the Big Three re-sign there). And Riles has to find players as he cocks an ear to the Midwest, and a city he thought his superstar player had left in mind and body, but which is still there, likely a stalking horse, to be sure, but one that must be taken seriously, its revenge/reunion fantasies still intact and getting oxygen as we speak. Or, write.

Then, almost immediately after that, came a meeting with Anthony’s incumbent team — the New York Knicks. Team officials flew across the country to talk with their star and ended up offering him a max deal as well.

Free agent Carmelo Anthony met with the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday and heard their pitch as to why he is the right man to become the next face of the franchise.The Lakers also made it clear to Anthony they’d offer him a maximum four-year, $95 million contract if he chose to sign with them, according to sources.

Anthony arrived at the team’s practice facility shortly after 3 p.m. ET, and departed just before 6 p.m.

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A person who was in the Lakers’ pitch said they thought it went “really well” and added, “I don’t know how big of a shot we have, but I think we have a shot.”

Another Lakers source described Anthony as “extremely attentive” throughout the meeting.

Following the meeting, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak was flying to Cleveland in order to meet Friday with LeBron James‘ agent, Rich Paul, according to a source.

While Anthony was told that a max offer would be his for the taking if he wanted it, the Lakers also discussed scenarios in which he and James could both come to the Lakers and how much money each would earn in doing so, a league source said.

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The Lakers’ presentation was led by team president Jeanie Buss, executive vice president of player personnel (and Jeanie’s brother) Jim Buss and Kupchak. It also included Lakers chief operating officer Tim Harris and executives from Time Warner Cable SportsNet, the Lakers’ television network, and representatives from AEG.

During their final meeting in Los Angeles, Knicks president Phil Jackson told Anthony he will give him the maximum contract of five years, $129 million, which would blow the competition out of the water. Anthony didn’t give Jackson a commitment, nor has he decided whether he will take the small paycut the Knicks would prefer.

A league source told The Post a decision should come over the weekend. Jackson has said giving out max contracts puts “limitations’’ on a club trying to build a title winner, but he showed he can’t afford to lose his cornerstone player for whom the Knicks traded the farm during the 2010-11 season.

Jackson flew into L.A. with coach Derek Fisher and president Steve Mills to meet with Anthony one last time following the Lakers’ 2 ½-hour presentation at their practice facility. Knicks owner James Dolan was not part of the Knicks meeting with Anthony.

That Anthony and the Knicks wanted yet another meeting seemed to underscore the team’s favorite status. Anthony did not have the Knicks brass fly to L.A. to tell them to work out a sign-and-trade with the salary-cap-hindered Bulls, who brought up a scenario in which the team could give him $16 million per for four years. The best offer the Bulls could make — and keep Taj Gibson — is four years, $72.6 million.

Anthony is trying to speak with free agent Pau Gasol about playing together in New York — not L.A. The Knicks have only their $3.3 million mini mid-level exception to offer Gasol, who made $19 million last season. But Gasol’s good friend/countryman Jose Calderon is now a Knick and it could set up the opportunity to play in New York with his brother, center Marc Gasol, a free agent in 2015.

Just as importantly, it shows Anthony still wants to make it work in New York despite their 37-45 season.

Western exposure has provided clarity for Miami Heat President Pat Riley when it has come to personnel moves. The hope within the organization is such will be the view again. Riley on Thursday headed to Los Angeles, where the Heat are expected to take a more aggressive approach to NBA free agency.

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Now, with Washington Wizards swingman Trevor Ariza and Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol, two of the more attractive free agents remaining on the market, taking meetings in South California, Riley has reached a critical state in his team’s makeover.

That had Riley working alongside coach Erik Spoelstra on Thursday seeking upgrades, amid multiple media reports of LeBron James‘ agent, Rich Paul, having met this week with teams interested in adding James as a free agent.

Gasol has been courted by several contenders hoping to lure him below his maximum market value.

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Working with smaller pieces appears to be a Heat consideration, having been in contact with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha before he signed Thursday with the Atlanta Hawks, and having expressed interest in New Orleans Pelicans shooting specialist Anthony Morrow, Utah Jazz forward Marvin Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Caron Butler and Dallas Mavericks guard Vince Carter.

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A source close to the situation told the Sun Sentinel that the Heat never got to the point of making an offer to either Kyle Lowry or Marcin Gortat, another indication of the Heat’s preference for a depth of incoming talent to support James, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade.

The Heat continue to operate under the belief that James, Bosh and Wade all will return, basing their salary-cap math in free agency on such an outcome.

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No. 4:Report: Rockets may make push for Bosh — As you can read above, the Lakers and Knicks have made the intentions known to Anthony in terms of contract offers. The Houston Rockets are still in the mix, too, but they have a clear Plan B should Anthony spurn them for L.A., New York or even the Chicago Bulls. Marc Stein of ESPN.com has more on how Houston will make a push for native Texan Chris Bosh should ‘Melo move somewhere else:

The Houston Rockets, if they fail to land free agent Carmelo Anthony, plan to shift their attention to trying to swipe Chris Bosh from the Miami Heat, according to sources close to the process.

Sources told ESPN.com on Thursday night that the Rockets — while still holding out hope that Anthony will choose them after hosting him Wednesday in Houston — have already let Bosh know how interested they are in bringing the Dallas native back to Texas.

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But sources say the Rockets are determined to test Bosh’s resolve in the event Anthony elects to return to the New York Knicks or chooses one of his other three primary suitors this week: the Chicago Bulls, the Dallas Mavericks or the Los Angeles Lakers.

Houston needs a big forward with 3-point range such as Bosh in its search for the ideal frontcourt sidekick to All-Star center Dwight Howard. Sources say Bosh and Mavs star Dirk Nowitzki likely would have been at the top of the Rockets’ list of free-agent targets had Houston believed it had a shot at either player.

Nowitzki committed Thursday to staying with the only team he has ever known for three more seasons, rebuffing Houston’s attempts to recruit him, but the sudden uncertainty in Miami might give the Rockets an unexpected shot to try to tempt Bosh.

The Rockets have maintained for weeks that they could move the contracts of Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin to create enough salary-cap space to sign a high-priced free agent if they could get a commitment from one of the top names.

While free agent small forward Luol Deng isn’t expected to visit with interested teams until next week, the Atlanta Hawks appear to be making an early pitch.

According to a person with knowledge of the situation, Deng was expected to speak with Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer about the possible partnership on Thursday night. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of the talks.

The Hawks are slated to have about $11.5 million in salary cap room once the free agency moratorium lifts on July 10. Their recent agreement with former Oklahoma City Thunder guard Thabo Sefolosha on a four-year, $12 million deal appears to have helped their efforts to land Deng. The two players were together with the Chicago Bulls from 2006 to 2009 and had a very good relationship.

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A sign-and-trade for Deng that would send him to the Los Angeles Clippers also has been discussed, although it appears the Clippers’ steep asking price on a possible return is likely too high. The Miami Heat also have serious interest, but if LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh ultimately re-sign, it remains to be seen if they will be willing to pay what it might take to add Deng. He could be a possibility if James signs elsewhere as well.

The Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and Bulls also have interest, though it appears the Bulls are the longshot candidate in the group.

57 Comments

I just saw a tweet from an NBA insider whos a good friend of mine….Lebrion is close to deal with Phoenix, max deal n some say in future draft picks. This is almost s done deal and happening now. Good for u Phx

LeBron James should not play basketball for less than $1 million dollars per game. James, Anthony, Love and other NBA “Stars” have a chance to change the way NBA Player negotiate contracts in the future. The current NBA “Collective Bargain Agreement” – should be torn-up and re-written before it expires as a sign of “good will”. The owners did it to themselves when they agreed to pay Donald Sterling 2 billion dollars over his original 27 million dollar investment.

The NBAPA should be in discussions right know with their lawyers creating a new “Collective Bargain Agreement” strategy (raise the salary level to 1 million dollars per game). The NBA is not the plantation.

Over the next 10 years (820 games) James, Anthony, Love and other NBA “Star” Players have a chance to be the 1st “Billion Dollar” NBA Players. How?

*Playing Basketball – James, Anthony, Love and other NBA “Star” Players should not play for less than 1 million dollars per game – 82 games per season = $82 million annually.

*Endorsements (shoes, etc.) – James, Anthony, Love and other NBA “Star” Players should not wear anybody’s shoes for less than – 1 million dollars per game – 82 million annually.

*Over 10 years James, Anthony, Love and other NBA “Star” Players can make – $1,640,000,000 each just for playing basketball and wearing sneakers.

Donald Sterling (2 billion dollars) still made more money than James, Anthony, Love and other NBA “Star” Players without playing a game. How crazy is that…

I only know that if LBJ or CA go to Dallas, the team will be championship contender….Also they wont have the coaching problems LA has or cap problems Chicago has, houston coach doesnt has all the experience needed to win, but Carlisle does.

The Lakers are without a coach,after the last two left,so one doesn’t know where the tide will turn(who will be the next coach & what will be his system).One thing is clear:the Lakers finished on the bottom of their division(conference).
N.Y.,on the other hand, has a winning coaching staff,& I include Phil. Jackson in the mix,after I have read that he intends to take an active part in coaching,at least in the first period,& Mold Derek Fisher into a successful coach like himself.
Phil, Jackson began his career in N.Y. & came to make a full circle,by coming to the place where it all began.I believe in the man’s good intentions,And he will make it happen.
N.Y. missed an opportunity, when they let Pat Riley go 20 years ago.Now is their 2nd & last chance to get the best in coaching(a 3rd
one on this level will never come).
I hope Carmelo Anthony makes the right decision & returns to N,Y.

Hi Sekou, I have been a fan of yours since your ajc days, and I just want to say how proud I am of your transition. Your drive and focus is admirable, and on behalf of myself and my family, you can consider us fans for life. May God Bless and keep you.

Oh and if possible can you do me one favor, I am hoping that you can update us when there is news of where Coach Drew and Coach Bender, like you they are solid family men, with an skill set for this sport that is both realistic and focused. My family we care, and while it may not be big news like the free agency stuff, I just want to know where they land.

I dont understand, media are always saying Heat are looking for that $th star, who is Ray Allen? Who’s is Rashard Lewis? aren’t they stars on their own right? It is very clear the heat got beat by a team that plays like a team.. that is what the heat should do, play like there is no star on the team.

Lakers should 1) resign Paul G for $10, go after Carlos B when the Bulls emnestied him or 2) sign and trade Paul & Steve N to the Bulls for Carlos B & draft picks. After either got done, go after 2nd tier FAs because the Lakers will not be able to get Carmelo orBron. That is the reality after gving Kobe that hugh salary. They should have signed 2 major FAs before giving Kobe extension because they would have resigned Kobe for less if they signed good FAs.

Melo offered a choice of nearly $26 million/yr with max deal and lebron still looking for a team with $21million/yr with max deal. And teams are behind car'(can drive sales up) Melo(but no melody in playoffs).

G-Lou and Dirk plus the rεbounder-only Tyson, means :
Dallas gains all !
Luol all star 4ever , Go somewhere they know about basketball they don’t seek for show and fake dad boys ( Dirk would be not even an elite player if he was with Bulls!)

yo yo , lebron and pau and deng should go to phoenix with my man goran the dragon dragic yo , yo yo who wouldnt wanna play with my man goran the dragon dragic yo a true PG yo , yo yo goran will be best PG in the league yo in the next season or two yo , yo yo man just go to phoenix yo and u got yourself some rings yo , yo riley better get some picks if u can cause u are going in rebuilding yo

Melo. If you are reading this. Please please please come to chicago if you want to win. You will defineteky be ‘the man’ here. We’ll embrace you. And you’ll win the 2015 championship.
Carmelo you are the missing piece. We need you.

Carmelo come to the Lakers and stop entertaining those jokey teams with no chance at a ring. I always say it is better to be sure than uncertain and as sure as you join with kobe you will get a ring and thats what they all fear.

Stop hating on Kobe he tried his best to prune Howard but, thats is like tryin to teach a child to be an adult. Carmelo or Lebron no that a run with the mamba would increase their chance at a ring because of his basketball I.Q.(the highest int the league) and shooting ability (amazing shots that look impossible but he gets them in).

i hope deng goes to atlanta the still need a center so horford can move to pf the now have 2 good sg who feel the others liabiltys i wish the wouldve got asik paul gasol would be a good fit as well this team could be a top 3 team in the east if the get deng and a good center

Could it be that Lebron James is “stalling” on purpose so that all the free agents are gone and signed? Then he can say: “well, I told you (Heat) I would be looking elsewhere in free agency pending you signing and trading to make me a championship team! You didn’t do it, so I’m moving on (to Cleveland or Lakers probably)!” Like Carmello, I don’t know why either one of these teams would expect to win a championship on a new team. You have to account for chemistry and ego issues (e.g. will Kobe really partner well w/ Carmello, or e.g. will Kyrie Irving accept 2nd fiddle to Lebron like Dwayne Wade had to do eventually?). Stay where you are people! Take the money you know you want! But don’t complain if you don’t win either! Both players are at risk for not winning a championship next year whether they stay where they are or not. The current Heat team and the current Knicks team stinks. Bad.

How did the Heat end up so unprepared for free agency? Did they just think Lebron would just resign right away? They immediately lost out on their top two targets without getting them an offer even and so far all they have is Napier to turn this team around? Well at least we won’t have to hear from obnoxious heat fans much longer, I’m sure they will all walk off early when it looks like they aren’t winning free agency lol.

Money talks. lol It’s smart to make as much money as you can early in your career. You never know how long you’ll be in the league. You can worry about championships later. After everyone on the Spurs retire.

I have learn to appreciate Chris Bosh as the Heat’s most important player. I have watched him closely and critically over the last four years and seeing him playing out of position and also showing surprising mobility and agility…he has great value as a individual and as a teammate. Maybe this is his chance to show how important he is with another team which allows him to play his natural position! Rocket out Bosh!

Can’t see Melo or LeBron going to the Lakers. LeBron is probably 95%, if not more, back to the Heat and Melo is going to come down to Bulls and Knicks. Nice piece on Melo’s free agency on SH today – worth a read: http://straighthoops.com/courting_carmelo.html

wow lebron meeting with the mavs? I think he and melo should go to the sixers were they could both get 17 mil and a great city mcw and nerlens and after that embiid will all help us to bring a championship!!